As women, we have so much to get done in a single day and we never seem to have the chance to “come up for air.” I frequently tell my husband, “we are on the hamster wheel and there’s no getting off of it.” My husband and I have little kids, including a 6 month old, and we operate our business where he is the maker and I help him with all of the management and madness that takes place day to day. Of course I am a macro nutrition coach, and we both prioritize macro tracking and fitness goals. Let’s not even get into all of the extracurriculars, church happenings, family gatherings, etc. It’s a whole lot of chaos most days being parents with careers while also prioritizing family, friends and relationships. We are living life in the fast lane.

With all of this being said, it would be so easy to view macro tracking, exercise and prioritizing health as another “thing” to check off of our to-do-list. And rightfully so, right?! However, I am SO grateful I have macro tracking to ground me. When everything feels totally out of control, macro tracking is what I can count on.

If I had one wish for each and every one of our amazing clients here with us at Stay Fit Mom, it would be that macro tracking would give empowerment and encouragement because it IS the one thing we can control and count on every single time. “Macros are macros whether we track them or not,” as Coach Tracy says. And it’s SO true. Time will pass no matter what we do with it. How awesome is it that even if we are having a bad day, we can still rest assured knowing that our physical body will be well fed no matter what? That despite that bad day, we know we are pushing our health and fitness goals forward? That is accountability and control. No event or circumstance can take that away from us as women. I may not have all the answers when my kids are bummed because they lost their game, or when they come home in a mood or asking hard questions. But when I have a plan for dinner, my husband and I can spend less energy on figuring out what we are eating and more energy pouring into our family while simultaneously fueling our bodies appropriately. Rather than viewing our nutrition as an obligation or a duty that we are “forced” to fulfill, what if we are mindful to speak out loud, “I am grateful for the tool of macro tracking that allows me to be in control of my body and my health.” There is so much power in our words and thoughts. There are three principles that will create “calm” for those of us living in a lot of chaos. They are as follows…

1. Take a breath. You can do this! In the beginning especially, it will feel daunting. It can feel a bit all consuming. But it WON’T feel that way forever. Give yourself grace as you find your footing. 
2. Make a plan – think ahead. “Failure to plan means planning to fail.” Think about your week in advance on a day that your mental capacity is a bit more “freed up.” Add groceries to your cart at your favorite grocery store that offers curbside pick up and boom! Now you have what you need to be successful for your week! 
3. Keep food stocked and protein sources prepared in your fridge. If you have items to fill in macro gaps like butter for fats, fruit or fruit juice for carbs and shrimp, chicken, jerky and/or protein powder for protein, you can’t get it wrong if you commit to playing tetris. 

Even with the best laid plans, life doesn’t always go the way we expect it to go. I will never forget when I was in the hospital with my one year old daughter, Lola, and it had been a long day. I had barely gotten to eat and I certainly wasn’t hitting my macros that day. My husband brought me a sandwich and I ate it feeling very frustrated and defeated. I was cranky because I just wanted to keep control over that ONE thing, my nutrition, as life felt so out of control. Hours later, she passed away unexpectedly. I felt (and still feel) so much guilt over the way I cared so much about whether or not I hit my macros. That’s not to say that we should just throw our hands in the air when an inconvenience comes our way or that we shouldn’t try, but sometimes life just gives us out of the ordinary circumstances that we couldn’t see coming. All that matters is that we control what we can in the moment that we are currently living in. When chaos strikes, I like to ask myself, “what can I do right this moment in order to give myself a little more calm in the next moment?” Sometimes it’s folding laundry. Sometimes it’s getting my workout finished for the day. Sometimes it’s setting out my workout clothes ahead of time for the next day. Sometimes it’s cooking up some chicken or beef so I have options for myself and my family the next few days. It can look so different! But the point is practicing accountability and awareness, and being proactive vs reactive. This is my hope for you as you find your footing with macro tracking.